Out in the Milwaukee area for work, by chance I caught one of my top 3 favorite Lakers coming into Port on my day off.. waited over an hour for her.

Captain saw the small crowd of us, gave a nod from the pilot house, and we got a captains salute!!

I am very interested in these select ships (Valor, Blough, Mckee Sons, the Phillip R. Clarke, the Anderson, and the Fast Eddie. I was wondering the status of these ships and how much it would take to take out of layup and if it is possible at all. My favorite of those ones is probably the Mckee Sons and I have not been able to find much info on her so anything about that would help!

Had the pleasure of seeing the HCJ come into Milwaukee for the second time this summer. Nice day to see a classic, and was nice to hear a salute!

Kaye E. Barker, G.L. Ostrander and Integrity, and Dorthy Ann and Pathfinder.

The massive ocean ship Polsteam Okra departed Duluth, Minnesota, after loading grain, creating an incredible scene as the sun set over Duluth Superior Harbor.

With help from the historic tugboat Missouri, the Polsteam Okra slowly moved through the harbor and picked up speed as it headed toward the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge and Lake Superior.

But what makes this departure especially unique is the perspective.

From Pier B in Duluth, you’ll watch this massive ocean ship pass by while a fire crackles nearby. With the evening sky behind the vessel, the sounds of the fire, and the Polsteam Okra moving majestically across the harbor, it feels like you’re sitting right there watching everything unfold in real time.

Then comes the sound that carries across the harbor.

The Polsteam Okra lets loose with a powerful ship horn salute to the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge, with the blast echoing across the water as the vessel continues toward the bridge.

You’ll also hear actual marine radio communication between the Polsteam Okra’s captain and the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge operator as they coordinate the departure. It gives you a behind-the-scenes listen to what is happening aboard the ship while watching the entire scene unfold from shore.

Between the Lake Superior sunset, crackling fire, tugboat Missouri, massive ocean ship, powerful horn salute, and actual ship radio communication, this is a completely different way to experience Great Lakes shipping in Duluth.

This video was made exclusively for Duluth Ship Cam at Canal Park on Facebook and Vibe with Mike.

Recorded in Duluth, Minnesota, on August 24, 2026.

Algoma Conveyor, American Spirit, Northern Venture, Algoma Harvester, American Integrity, and BBC Rostov all in close proximity of each other

634 feet! She was unloading across the channel from our jobsite.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice on finding a paint color that matches the darker red/brown seen on the hull of Interlake's freighters? I'd like to paint a couple picture frames that color...for pics of the Kaye E. Barker and Lee A. Tregurtha

I swear I'm not trying to be political, I'm genuinely curious: How is all this nonsense about renaming the Lake affecting the industry?

SARNIA, ON – Ending months of speculation about her fate, the veteran laker Saginaw left her lay-up dock at Sarnia’s North Slip Monday. She moved down river to the Imperial Oil Fuel Dock in Sarnia, then headed upbound on Lake Huron for Superior, WI, to load ore pellets at the BNSF #5 dock. She is expected there in the afternoon of Aug. 26 to load ore pellets for Hamilton

The 639-foot self-unloader was built in 1953 in Manitowoc, WI, as John J. Boland (iii). She has been laid up since her previous operator, Lower Lakes Towing Co., was sold to Algoma Central Corp. in early 2026.

Photo: Jeff Gushman. Here's the article from Boatnerd.

My friend and I both are recent graduates. I'll be getting on an ocean ship soon, but he has his pilotage and is looking at the lakes. He was offered a permanent relief position with ASC. When we did our sea projects on the lakes, we were told that with the current sailor shortage, it's better to be a floating relief and take jobs as we want them. He doesn't have a reddit account and asked me to get some advice.

I'm hoping this community has a fair amount of active mates on the lakes who can help him out with this decision.

He liked the idea of being able to work as much as he wants as a floater. If he accepts the permanent relief position, can he still float in between contracts? Can he say no if they call him in when he isn't available?

Last of Its Kind: A Great Lakes Ship From Another Era Arrives in Duluth. The historic steamship Alpena, built in 1942 and the last surviving ship of its kind, arrived through the Duluth Ship Canal with its powerful steam whistle echoing across the harbor as a huge crowd gathered to watch this piece of Great Lakes shipping history pass beneath the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge. Vibe with Mike documents the Alpena arriving in Duluth, Minnesota, carrying a load of cement to be offloaded at the Amrize terminal in Superior, Wisconsin. More than eight decades after it was built, Alpena continues sailing and carrying cargo on the Great Lakes, giving people the opportunity to see a working ship from an entirely different era.

What makes Alpena so special is its incredible history. Built in 1942, Alpena is the last surviving vessel of five AA-class ships originally built for U.S. Steel's Pittsburgh Steamship Company. In the video, you'll see photographs of Alpena's four sister ships along with the years each was scrapped, showing how Alpena ultimately became the last of its kind still sailing today. Its classic profile, distinctive red, white and black smokestack, and steam-powered equipment make Alpena unlike virtually anything else still sailing the Great Lakes. With rolling waves on Lake Superior and crowds lining the Duluth piers, Alpena approached the ship canal before sounding its powerful steam whistle. You can actually see steam shoot into the air as the distinctive high-pitched whistle echoes through the harbor, followed by the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge returning the salute.

Throughout the video, you'll experience Alpena's arrival from Lake Superior and get an up-close look as this historic Great Lakes ship passes through the Duluth Ship Canal. You'll see crew members on deck, the ship's rudder, its famous smokestack, the waves rolling around the vessel, and the enormous crowd gathered along the waterfront to watch Alpena arrive. There was an incredible amount of energy and excitement around the bridge and along the piers as people watched a ship that represents a disappearing chapter of Great Lakes history pass right in front of them. You never know when the final opportunity to see Alpena will come. At some point this historic steamship will eventually be retired, but right now it continues to sail, carry cargo, sound its unmistakable steam whistle, and give us the opportunity to experience a genuine piece of Great Lakes shipping history from 1942. Recorded in Duluth, Minnesota, on August 15, 2026.